Pubs & Bars Serving More Ice Then Drink

londoner2009

Anyone else get annoyed that if you do not go out of your way to use the word "No Ice" when ordering a drink you more often then not end up with a drink that has more ice in it then soft drink?

I ordered a coke in a pub in West Kensington the other week and forgot the magic word "No Ice" and the barmaid proceeded to fill the entire pint glass full of ice first - all the way to the very top and then add coke

I have a friend who runs a bar and if you don't say no ice then he says they put in 3 cubes of ice and no more which seem reasonable to me.

Isn't the major soft drinks like coca cola or pepsi bothered by their product being watered down? I remember the huge debate that use to be whether a pint of beer included or didn't include the head, but that loss is nothing people that have soft drinks could lose out to when you fill a glass with ice first.

Millionaire

If I can remeber I always say no ice in my soft drinks at pubs etc.

They are already watered down to begin with.

You should have refused the drink. I would have.

What annoys me at fast food places is when you order a drink and they don't fill the cup up.

I once was given one only half full and it had ice in it as well.:rolleyes:

Timmne

I always used to use 3 cubes when I was a barman - the ice should be there to chill the drink, not fill the glass!

My boss used to get really upset when I didn't fill the glass with ice first!

PinkLipgloss

Back in my bartending days (when I was a student at uni) I was told by the owners of the bar to ALWAYS put 3 cubes of ice in the glass unless the customers requested otherwise.

Unfortunately most places don't seem to do this. Cafes/ lower priced restaurants and cinemas are the worst offenders!

londoner2009

I think 3 cubes of ice is perfectly acceptable and I think most people would prefer a little bit of ice in their drinks - but I think those places that load the glass with ice are just taking the customer for a ride.

I really do think there should be legislation for this - we have it for alcoholic drinks - and we want to do all we can to stop people from drinking and driving.

I also don't know why the companies such as coca-cola and pepsi don't take more of an interest - not only is the consumer being cheated but they are as well.

Venues in London are particularly loud and sometimes it's hard to get across what drink you want - let alone you don't want it loaded with ice. Sometimes it's so loud I have to order drinks simply by pointing to them.

Also a lot of staff in London don't speak English as their first language - in fact a lot of bar staff come to London to learn English so sometimes just trying to get across what you want is even more difficult.

chocolatechipcookies

I hate ice. Revolution adds so much ice in their drinks. It's more drink than ice! But their drinks are so much money. Total rip off.

moonrakerz

I think the filling of the glass with ice first is yet another unwelcome American import. I always say "no ice" over there - you get looked at as though you have just arrived from Mars !

dobbie82

Best way to do it, is to ask for no ice, then a few minutes later (when you've had a few sips) ask for some ice :-)

I work behind a bar sometimes and the pepsi is £2.40 a pint!! (same as the beer) so i try not to put much ice in the glass.

Rex_Mundi

A G & T with only three lumps of ice wouldn't be too nice. A decent G & T should always be served with a whole glass full of ice (made well, this is a lovely summer drink).

I can understand the gripe about too much ice in a glass of coke/lemonade out of the pump though (it does seem to be shortchanging you out of the actual drink). It is very easy to say 'just a couple of lumps please' if that is what you want.

Emmylou_2

If I ask for no ice (and I tend to do this) and got 3 cubes then I wouldn't accept the drink...it's like asking for diet coke and getting fat coke...not what you ordered...

kr15snw

We always got told 3 cubes unless customer asked for somthing else (none or more).

Places like McDonalds are the worst, they do fill the cup with ice!